Button-making machine.



No. 740,991. PATENTED OCT. 6, 1903.

' G. W. PBLTON.

BUTTON MAKING MACHINE.

urmonxon FILED AUG. 12, 1902 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R0 MODEL.

PATENTED 001'. e, 1903.

G. W. PELTON. BUTTON MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED we. 12, 190a no MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m 5% s v, g} a? w ,w\ 'mMl/l/AHEEIZ xiv/ mink by W V Paays v PATENTED 001?. e, 1903.

. e. w. 22mm I BUTTON MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1902 v '5 SHBETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

to. 740,991. Patented October 6,1903. UNITED STAT S PATENT Orrrcn.

GEORGE W. PELTON, OF MUSOATINE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO BOEPPLE BUTTON COMPANY, OF MUSOATINE, IOWA.

BUTTON-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,991, dated October 6, 1903.

Application filed August 12, 1902. $aria1li0- 119Al8. (No model.)

To whom it y 6070097771: ism for centering or forming the central re- Be it known that'I, GEORGE W. PELTON, a cess in the button-blank. Fig. 4 is a front citizen of the United States, residing at Muselevation of the holder for the centering-tool. v catine, in the county of Muscatine and State Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for 55 5 of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Butlocking the chuck-carrier in position after ton-Making Machine, of which the following each angular movement. Fig. 6 is a detail is a specification. sectional view of the preliminary grinding The invention relates to certain improvewheel or disk for facing the blanks. Fig. 7 ments in machinery employed in the manuis a detail sectional view of the same on the 6o- 1o facture of buttons. line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a detail sectional The principal object of the invention is to View of oneof the drill-supports. Fig. 9 is a provide a machine which will finish, center, transverse sectional elevation of the same on and drill any desired number of holes in a the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a transverse button, the various steps in the operation besectional elevation of a portion of one of the 65 'ing carried on automatically and the machine chucks, illustrating a friction locking device being supplied with rough blanks and delivfor holding the chuck from rotative moveing finished buttons. v ment during the drilling operations. Fig. 11

A further object of the invention is to prois an elevation of one of the supporting-standvide an improved form of button-holding ards forming a part of the frame. Fig. 12 is 70 2o chuck and chuck-operating mechanism which a transverse sectional elevation of the same will permit of the rapid rotation of the chuck on the line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a simiand button during the operation of centering 'lar view on the line 13 13 of Fig. 11. or forming the central depression or recess Similarnumeralsof reference are employed usually found in buttons and for maintaining to indicate corresponding parts throughout 75 the chuck and button in proper position dnr-' the several figures of the drawings.

ing the drilling operation, the centered blank On a suitable base 15 are arranged three being presented successively to any desired standards 16, 17, and 18, forming a frame for number of drills and each drill forming a septhe support of the various operating devices. arate opening in the button. I In the lower portion of the frame and partly 8o A still further object of the invention is to supported by a small standard 19 is a shaft provide for the reduction of the successive 20, having a belt-wheel 21, receiving motion blanks to a substantially uniform thickness from any suitable source of power. This in advance of the subsequent operation in shaft is provided with apinion 22,intermesh order to prevent breakage and secure uniing with a pinion 23, which engages the teeth 85 5 formity of the product. of a large gear-wheel 24, mounted loosely on A still further object of the invention is to a shaft 25, adapted to bearings in the standprovide an improved form of drill-chuck and ards 17 and 18. The large gear-wheel 24 indrill-chuck supporting device and to provide termeshes with a plurality of pinions 26, carfor the proper locking of the chucks in proper ried by shafts 27, which serve to move the 90 position under the drills. various tool-slides from and toward the but- With these and other objects in View the intons in the manner hereinafter described. vention consists in the novel construction and Between the two standards 16 and 17 is a staarrangement of parts hereinafter described, tionary spindle 29, on which is mounted a illustrated in the accompanying drawings, chuck-carrying ring 30, having at one side a 5 s and particularly pointed outin the appended gear 31, inter-meshing with a mutilated gear claims. g 32 on the shaft 20, the mutilated gear serv- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevaing to impart an intermittent rotative movetion of a button-makinginachine constructed ment to the chuck-carrier during the operain accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is tion of the machine. The chuck-carrying mo a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enring is provided wit-hinner and outer bearvlarged detail view in section of the mechanings 34 and 35, arranged in radially-aimed pairs and serving as supports for chuck-carrying sleeves 36. In the periphery of each sleeve are annular grooves 37 for the reception of antifriction-balls running on the inner faces of the bearings, and each sleeve supportingalongitudinally-adjustable chuck 38, having a tapering and slotted head 39 of the usual construction for the reception of a button-blank. The inner end of the chuckspindle projects beyond the inner face of the bearing 34, and at its outer end is an enlarged head 40, provided with a central recess for the reception of an antifriction-ball 41, which is confined in place by a metallic ring 42, suitably secured to the head 40. Between the inner face of the bearing 34 and the head 40 is a coiled compression-spring 43, which normally serves to maintain the chuck in blank-engaging position, the chuck being held closed on the blank during the major portion of the revolving movement of the carrier 30 and being released to deposit a finished button by the contact of the antifriction-ball 41 with a cam 44, carried by the standard 16. The spindle is provided with a laterally-projecting pin 45, adapted to enter a slot 46 in the sleeve to compel the rotative movement of both the sleeve and spindle, while permitting independent longitudinal movement of the spindle while the chuck is being moved to button engaging and releasing position.

To the chuck-sleeve is secured a beveled frictionegear 48 and a friction-brake disk 40, the latter being acted upon bya segment 50, pivoted at one end to the chuck-carrier and being provided at a point near the opposite end with a spring 51, which is brought into contact with a fixed segment 52, carried by the standard 17du ring all the time the chucks are being moved to position under the several drills.

The beveled disk 48 is employed for the purpose of rotating the chucks when the latter are moved to a position under the centering-tool, as shown in Fig. 3. When the chucks reach this position, the disks 48 are engaged by a friction-disk 52, mounted on a shaft 53 and rotated through the medium of a belt carried by a belt-wheel 54 on said shaft. In order to prevent injurious pressure on the chucks, the end standard 16 is provided with a pin 53, on which is mounted a bevel-disk 54, which comes into contact with each disk 48 at a point diametrically opposite the drivingdisk 52, thereby insuring sufficient frictional contact between the two disks to drive the disk 48 and the chuck against the resistance ofiered by the centering-tool.

The standard 17 is provided with a ring 56, on the periphery of which are secured a number of slotted guiding-blocks 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 62, arranged at'equidistant intervals and spaced from each other at a distance equal to the spacing of the several chucks held by the carrier 30. In the present instance ten chucks are employed, and the mutilated gear 32 is provided with a sufficient number of teeth'to impart a one-tenth revolution to the gear and chuck-carrier at each movement, the chuck-carrier being stopped at regular intervals and the button-blank being operated upon by the several tools supported by the blocks.

The block 57 is provided with dovetail guideways for the reception of a slide 63, carrying two hearings in which is supported a shaft 64, provided at its lower end with a grinding-disk 65, formed of any suitable material. At the upper end of the shaft is a grooved wheel 66, driven by a belt from a revolving pulley 67. The central portion of the slide 63 is recessed for the reception of a cam' of the construction best shown in Fig. 8. The shaft 27 is provided with an adjustable collar 68, to which is secured a curved bar 69, forming a cam which is seated in a recess 70 in the slide 63 and imparts reciprocating movement thereto, the grindingdisk being forced into contact with abutton-blank carried by one of the chucks. In order to prevent breakage and to insure uniformity in the grinding of the blanks, theshai't or spindle 64 is provided with a helical compressionspring 72, arranged between the upper hearing, and a collar 73, rigidly secured to the shaft, a slight yielding movement of the disk being permitted and irregularity in the thickness of the blanks being thus compensated for. The bar 69, which forms the actuatingcam, is secured to the collar 68 by two or more screws, the screw at the outer end of the cam be ng adjustable to some extent in order that the curvature of the cam may be regulated to any desired extent. The grinding'disk 65 serves as a facing-tool, and the blanks carried by the several chucks are first subjected to the action of this disk in order that the face of the blanks may be dressed to a uniform degree and the danger of breakage from the contact of the centering-tool with uneven and irregular blanks be reduced to a minimum.

The driving mechanism for the belt-wheel 67 comprises a beveled friction disk 74, mounted on a suitable shaft adapted to bearings in an auxiliary frame 75, carried by the standard 17, said disk being in contact with a large friction-disk 77, carried by the shaft 25 and rotated by a link belt 78 and similar sprocket wheels from the lower shaft 20. Each one of each of the tools carried by the machine is operated by the friction-disk 77, the belt connections, disks, and pulleys being substantially the same as that employed for driving the grinding-disk 65, and similar reference-numerals being employed to indicate corresponding portions of the mechanism.

The inner ends of the chucks make contact with one of-the cams 44 as they approach the grinding-disk and the operator inserts a blank in each chuck. The intermittent rotative movement of the chuck carrier brings the chuck and blank to a position under the grind- ICC ing-disk 65, the chuck being stopped and held until the grinding is accomplished. At the next rotative movement of the chuckcarrier through the action of the mutilated gear 32 the chuck and blank are brought to a position in vertical alinement with the centering-tool, as shown in Fig. 3, this tool being employed for the purpose of forming the central recess or depression usually found in buttons.

The block 58 is provided with a dovetail guideway for the reception of a vertically-disposed slide 80, which is reciprocated by a cam- 69, mounted on one of the shafts 27in the manner previously described. Secured to or formed integral with the. front face of the slide is a circular disk 81, provided with a number of recesses or openings 82. The slide is provided with a centrally-disposed stud 83, on which is mounted a tool-carrier 84, having any desired number of grooved tool-carrying arms, six of such arms being employed in the present instance and each arm being provided with a centering-tool 85, which is confined in place bya clamping-plate 86, the latter being held in position by a collar 87, surrounding the arm and carrying a screw '88, which may he forced into contact with the plate in order to hold the latter firmly against the tool. The tools carried by the several arms are allof the same construction and their cuttingedges are at equal distances from the center of rotation of the tool-carrier. A single centering-tool could be here employed to effect the desired result; but it is preferred to use a plurality of tools in order that a dulled or worn tool may be quickly replaced without the necessity of stopping the machine, this being a source of considerable loss in the manufacture of buttons from mother-of-pearl, where the tools require fre quent sharpening owing to the nature of the materia-L- To provide for the sharpening of the tools without removing the same from the toolcarrier, I employ a grinding-disk 90,carried by ashort shaft adapted to bearings in an arm 91, pivoted to a bracket 92,carried by the block 58. The shaft is provided with a grooved pulley 93, driven by a suitable belt or cord from one of the grooved pulleys 67, the belt being guided and held taut by idlers 94, mounted on studs carried by the arm 91. The grinding-disk 90 may be n oved into contact with the tools by means of a milled nut 95, mounted on the threaded end of the rod 96, the rod being surrounded by a helical compressionspring 97, which normally tends to elevate the arm and remove the grinding-tool from operative position. In the operation of this portion of the mechanism the several tools are mounted in the arms, and the tool-holder is then rotated until all of the tools have movedinto contact with the grinding-disk, and the uniformity of distance of the cutting edges from the center of rotation being thus assured. The tools are held in operative position by means of a pin 99, extending through a guidingopening in the tool -carrier and adapted to enter any one of the series of openings 82 in the stationary disk 81. The'outer end of the pin is pivotally connected to an operating-lever 100, carried by a stud 101, projecting from the central pivotstud 83. When the tool-holderis to be revolved, the lever is operated to remove the end of the pin from the opening 82, when the tool-holder may be moved to present the next tool to the-button, the pin being released'and allowed to enter the nextlocking openingin the disk 81. Owing to the frequent grinding of'the tools the distance of the cutting edges from the center of rotation is materially reduced, and as the tool-carrying slide receives at all times the same amount-of reciprocatory movement a shortened tool could not act to properly center a button-blank. To compensate for the shortening of the tools, each of the tools may be independently adjusted to project their cutting edges to the desired distance from the center of rotation;' but it is preferred to antomatically compensate for the wearing away of the tools by providing the tool-carrying slide with a bar 102, which is vertically ad-.

j usted each time the tool-holder is completely rotated. The bar 102 is connected to a pair of threaded rods 103, on which are mounted gears 104, said gears being intermeshed with an intermediate pinion 105, with which engages a pawl 106, projecting from the revoluble tool-carrier. carrier brings the pawl into engagement with the pinion and turns both of the screws to effect a vertical'movement of the bar 102 for a distance equal to the amount of material removed from the tools by the grinding-disk. While it is preferred to employ a centering device of the character illustratedand described, it will be understood that any ordinary form of centering-tool may be employed for the purpose without departing from the invention. After the button-blank is properly centered it receives a further movement to properly present the blank to the first of the drills, and any desired number of drills may be employed in accordance with the character of the button to be manufactured. In the drawings I have illustrated the employment of four drills for the manufacture of a four-hole button; but it will be understood that the number of drills may be increased or diminished or a portion of those shown may be temporarily adj usted to inoperative position for the manufacture of abutton of difierent character. Each of the drill-slides is of the character shownin Figs. 8 and 9 and comprises a radially-movable plate 108, carried by the grooved block and having a central recess for the reception of'one of the operating cams 69, carried by a revoluble shaft 27. The slide 108 is pivotally connect- Each rotation of the tool-' ICC ed bya pin 109 to an auxiliary plate 110, having an arcuate slot 111 arranged in a line concentric with the pivot-pin, the plate and bolt and thumb-nut 112, which may be loosened to permit the movement of the plate 110 on its pivot center and the adjustment of the drill to an inoperative position. The plate 110 is provided with bearings for the reception of a drill-spindle 113, having at its inner end a chuck for the reception of a suitable drill and at its outer end a grooved pulley 66, driven by one of the pulleys 67, previously described. All of the drills are arranged in different planes with respect to the axes of the drill-spindles when in a normal position in order to properly form the openings in the button. Where a two-hole button is to be made, the thumb-screw 112 of two of the toolcarrying slides are loosened and the slides adjusted to inoperative position. The adjusting means permits of the ready removal ofatool for grinding and,further,permits of the locking of the slide in any desired position. After the button-carrying chuck leaves the facing-disk it is stopped in the position shown in Fig. 3 at a point under the centering-tool, and at this time the beveled friction-disks 18, 52, and54 come into contact, the disk 48 being revolved at any desired speed under the relatively stationary centering-tool. After leaving the centering-tool and while traveling to position under the several drills it becomes necessary to prevent rotative movement of the chucks, and this is accomplished by means of the curved friction-brake 50, previously described. The curved bar 52 extends continuously under all of the drills, and as the chucks leave the centering-tool the springs 51 come into contact with the bar 52 and the friction-bars 50 are forced into contact with the disks 49, thus holding the chucks from rotative movement during the drilling of the holes. After the drilling of the last hole the springs 51 leave the curved bar, and thence the chuck-spindles are acted upon by one of the cams 4:4: to open the chuck and allow the completed button to fall into a suitable receptacle. The chucks are held open or are again opened at the rear side of the machine, the operator placing a single blank beneath one of the chucks and the latter closing on said blanks before the chuck is stopped under the facing-tool or grinder 65. In order to properly lock the chuck-carrier at the completion of each intermittent rotative movement, said chuck-carrier is provided with a number of pins 115, which are successively engaged by a holding-spring 116, projecting from the standard 17, and immediately in advance of the engagement of the mutilated gear 32 with the chuck-carrier a cam 117 on said gear engages the end of the spring and moves the latter from contact with the pin 115, the further movement of the gear effecting the rotative movement of the chuck-carrier.

While the construction herein described, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure maybe made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, a chuck mounted therein, means for imparting a step-by-step rotative movement to the carrier, a centering-tool, means for revolving the chuck when in alinement with the centering-tool, a plurality of drills, means for locking the chuck from rotative movement When in alinement with the drills and during the movement of the chuck from drill to drill, and means for imparting reciprocatory movement to the centering-tool and the drills.

2. In a button-drilling machine,a grooved block, a slide guided therein, means for reciprocating said slide, a plate fulcrumed to the slide, means for locking the plate and slide to each other, a drill carried by said plate, means for rotating the drill, and a button-carrying chuck movable into alinement with the drill.

3. In a button-drilling machine, a grooved block, a slide guided therein, a plate pivoted to the block and provided with a segmental slot, a locking-screw extending through the slot and into a threaded opening in the slide, a drill carried by the plate, means for revolving the drill, mechanism for imparting reciprocating movement to the slide and drill, a button-carrying chuck, and means for moving the same into alinement with the drill.

4:. In a button-drilling machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means forim parting a stepby-step rotative movementthereto, a stationary frame, a series of radially-mounted drillcarrying slides supported by the frame,drills carried by the slides, grooved pulleys secured to the drills, radially-disposed spindles supported in hearings on the stationary frame, belt-wheels carried by the spindles, belts connecting the belt-wheels to the pulleys of the drills, friction-disks also secured to said spindles, a revoluble friction-disk in contact with all of the spindle-carried disks, and means for reciprocating the drill-carrying slides.

5. In a button-drilling machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for imparting a stepby-step rotative movement thereto, blankcarrying chucks mounted in the chuck-carrier, radially-disposed drill-supporting slides, cams for actuating said slides, shafts carry ing said cams, pinions mounted on the shaft, a continuously-revolved gear -wheel intermeshing with all of the pinions, drills carried by the slides, and means for continuously revolving said drills.

6. In-a button-making machine, a chuck for the supportof a button-blank, a buttonforming tool, a reciprocatory slide carrying said tool, a shaft, a collar secured thereto, and a curved bar adjustably secured to the collar and forming a cam for actuating said slide.

7. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for imparting a stepby-step rotative movement thereto, chucks mounted in the carrier, afriction-disk carried by each chuck, a centering-tool, a frictiondisk disposed in alinement with the tool and adapted to engage with the chuck-disk to effeet the rotation of the chuck.

8. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for imparting a stepby-step rotative movement thereto, chucks mounted in said carrier, a friction-disk carried by each chuck, a centering-tool, a driving-disk disposed in alinement therewith and adapted to engage with and revolve the chuckdisk, and an idler-disk carried by the supporting-frame of the machine and adapted to engage the chuck-disk at a point diametrically opposite the engagement of the latter with the driving-disk.

9. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for imparting a stepby-step rotat-ive movement thereto, chucks mounted in thecarrier, a centering-tool, a plurality of drills, a friction-disk carried by each chuck, means for engaging and rotating said disks when the chucks are in alinement with the centering-tool, and friction-brakes for preventing rotative movement of the chucks during the drilling operations.

, 10. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for im parting a stepby-step rot-ative movement thereto, chucks mounted in the carrier,a centering-tool,means for revolving the chucks in alinement with the centeringetool, a friction-Wheel carried by each chuck, pivoted friction-blocks supported by the carrier and adapted to engage said friction-wheels,springs carried by said blocks, and a curved trackway adapted to engage the springs and to force the blocks into contact with the friction-Wheel.

11. In a button-making machine, a blankreceiving chuck, means for supporting the same, a grinding-disk for facing the blank, a spindle carrying the disk, bearings for said spindle, a collar mounted on the spindle, a spring extending between the collar and one of its spindle-bearings, a slide supporting said bearings, and means for moving the slide toward and from the button-blank.

12. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, means for imparting an intermittent rotative movement thereto, a plurality of chucks mounted in the carrier, a fixed frame, a plurality of radially-slotted blocks carried thereby, button-forming tools,

slides carrying said tools and adapted to the slotted blocks, cams for actuating said slides, shafts carrying saidcamsQpinions secured to the shafts, a continuously-revolved gear- Wheel intermeshing with all of the pinions, a continuously-revolved friction-wheel, and tool-actuatin g friction-disks supported by the frame and engaging said friction-wheel.

13. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier, a gear carried thereby, a mutilated gear intermeshing with said rack and adapted to impart a step-by-step rotative' movement thereto, a plurality of lockingpins projecting from the carrier, a springarm carried by the frame of the machine and adapted to be engaged by the pins, a cam car- 'ried by the mutilated gear and adapted to move said spring-arm to releasing position, and button-forming tools disposed periphorally of the chuck-carrier.

14. In a button-making machine, a revoluble chuck-carrier having adjustable bearings, a chuck-sleeve adapted to said bearings and provided with a longitudinal slot, a friction- Wheel secured to the sleeve, a chuck-spindle, a pin carried by the spindle and extending into the slot in said sleeve, an enlarged head or flange at the inner end of said spindle, a coiled compression-spring extending between the head or flange and the inner end of the sleeve, an antifriction-ball adapted to a recess in said head, an auxiliary ring secured to the head and adapted to retain the antifriction-ball in position, and a cam with which the ball engages during the movement of the carrier to effect the movement of the chuckspindle to releasing position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. PELTON.

Witnesses:

D. S. MCDERMID, E. W. SMITH. 

